Olive Branch to Fulton is 104.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via US 78, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's predominantly highway, making it a straightforward and efficient option for a single-day trip. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two locations without extensive detours or complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 78
100.3 mi
1h 47m
South Adams Street
2.2 mi
4m
Cockrum Road
1.2 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Cummings Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 100.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Fulton, MS.
1
Start on Goodman Road
260 ft·12 sec·Goodman Road
2
Turn left onto MS 305
1.2 mi·2 min·Cockrum Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
4
Merge onto US 78
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Fulton, Amory
6
Turn slight left onto South Adams Street
2.2 mi·4 min·South Adams Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto MS 178
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
8
Turn right onto North Cummings Street
121 ft·3 sec·North Cummings Street
9
Arrive at destination
North Cummings Street
Trip Plan
This 1 hour 56 minute drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. Since it's a relatively short drive with only 0 stops recommended, you have the flexibility to take your time or push through without needing to plan for extensive breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel; at an estimated $16 cost, it's a good idea to fill up before you leave Olive Branch, as the longest stretch on US 78 is over 100 miles. Plan your arrival in Fulton outside of peak traffic hours if possible.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.4 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fulton, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Olive Branch, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Olive Branch, MS
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Olive Branch, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 78 for about 100.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 104.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Turn left onto MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
101.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Fulton, Amory
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Fulton, Amory
5
104.4 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|MS 178 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto MS 178 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
104.8 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|North Cummings Street
Turn right onto North Cummings Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.84 one way
$31.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.39
$34.78
premium
$4.56
$18.83
$37.66
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fulton, MS
Late night
in Fulton on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
New Albany, MS
52 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 83.2
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 96% of this 104.9-mile drive on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 100.3 miles on US 78. This means you'll experience mostly highway cruising for the bulk of the trip. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads, specifically South Adams Street and Cockrum Road, as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.3 mi on US 78.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 78 and South Adams Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Olive Branch, MS to Fulton, MS is easy. At 1h 56m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 100.3 miles on US 78. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fulton, MS before heading back.
